:00:00. > :00:00.public safety. Join me for a round-up of the day from both Houses
:00:00. > :00:16.of Parliament at 11pm. First, questions for Secretary of State for
:00:17. > :00:23.Scotland, David Mundell. Order. Questions to the Secretary of State
:00:24. > :00:28.for Scotland. Mr Speaker, before I answer this question can I begin by
:00:29. > :00:33.commending you not just on your attendance at the Davis Cup
:00:34. > :00:38.semifinal in Glasgow, but for the enthusiasm with which you got behind
:00:39. > :00:46.Team GB in that momentous win. I'm sure you will join me in not only
:00:47. > :00:50.wishing are Team GB the best in the final, but also confirming that
:00:51. > :00:58.Glasgow has once again demonstrated with the world gymnastic
:00:59. > :01:02.Championships, and is a great sporting city. The UK Government has
:01:03. > :01:06.given local communities the final say on new onshore wind development
:01:07. > :01:13.in England. Planning for onshore wind is a matter devolved to the
:01:14. > :01:17.Scottish parliament, and sadly the Scottish Government kept it to
:01:18. > :01:21.themselves. I would ask them to look closely at the policy of
:01:22. > :01:27.protect our natural landscapes. I protect our natural landscapes. I
:01:28. > :01:35.will be there in person to support the team, all being well. True
:01:36. > :01:43.as closely as possible with the as closely as possible with the
:01:44. > :01:47.people, in Scotland, in Wales, and in Northern Ireland. Does the
:01:48. > :01:51.Secretary of State deplore the centralising policies of the current
:01:52. > :01:56.Scottish and Welsh governments, who Scottish and Welsh governments, who
:01:57. > :01:59.seem to think they know better than the people in the communities of
:02:00. > :02:03.Scotland and Wales? I absolutely Scotland and Wales? I absolutely
:02:04. > :02:21.current Scottish Government is one current Scottish Government is one
:02:22. > :02:26.of the most centralising government is on record, routinely
:02:27. > :02:27.the wishes of local people and the wishes of local people
:02:28. > :02:28.authorities. We are delivering authorities. We are delivering
:02:29. > :02:30.devolution to Scotland. Let us see devolution delivered within
:02:31. > :02:33.Scotland. The Secretary of State will be aware of the case of the
:02:34. > :02:37.eco-park in my constituency, which has the support of the local
:02:38. > :02:40.community. Developers worked diligently to secure planning
:02:41. > :02:45.permission from the council. Despite the support, the development is
:02:46. > :02:49.threatened by the regressive approach his government has taken,
:02:50. > :02:57.putting local jobs at risk. Would he agree to look again at this case
:02:58. > :03:04.which has been penalised by its responsible approach to community
:03:05. > :03:11.engagement around planning issues? I am always happy to look at
:03:12. > :03:14.individual cases and I would be delighted to meet with her and hear
:03:15. > :03:20.more about the case she is setting out. Would he agree that the
:03:21. > :03:25.Scottish parliament could learn a lot from the devolution debate
:03:26. > :03:32.within England... LAUGHTER
:03:33. > :03:35.And would he encourage the Scottish parliament to devolve more
:03:36. > :03:42.responsibilities and powers to local government, including elected mayor
:03:43. > :03:52.is for the cities of Scotland? I absolutely agree with him, and that
:03:53. > :04:24.response of SNP members says it all, they know better than local people.
:04:25. > :04:26.Let us see decision-making and Lord Smith's individual recommendations
:04:27. > :04:27.honoured in Scotland. In addition to honoured in Scotland. In addition to
:04:28. > :04:27.this question, there is question after question today from the
:04:28. > :04:28.Nationalists questioning the powers Nationalists questioning the powers
:04:29. > :04:30.of the Scottish Parliament. But the truth is this, they have missed
:04:31. > :04:33.accident and emergency waiting time in Scotland for six years, more than
:04:34. > :04:37.6000 children leave primary school unable to read properly, and
:04:38. > :04:44.Scotland is facing a housing crisis. When I visited Edinburgh a
:04:45. > :04:47.week or so ago, I was stunned at the level of wrath speaking in the city,
:04:48. > :04:52.more than compatible cities. Shouldn't they be sorting out things
:04:53. > :05:02.for which they are responsible instead of demanding more powers? I
:05:03. > :05:04.have been generous. The Scotland Bill will make the Scottish
:05:05. > :05:09.Parliament the most powerful devolved parliament in the world.
:05:10. > :05:13.What is required now is to hear from the SNP and the Scottish Government
:05:14. > :05:18.has the will use these parliaments. They provide arguments about
:05:19. > :05:31.process, but they do not want to tell us what they will do or follow
:05:32. > :05:34.it through with action. It is difficult to hear with the noise
:05:35. > :05:44.from the Labour Party. The only damage to onshore wind comes from
:05:45. > :06:00.the honourable members' government. If only they would take control of
:06:01. > :06:07.inter-island freights -- flights. You can learn a lot from the number
:06:08. > :06:11.of SNP people who won the boats. He could learn a lot from the leader of
:06:12. > :06:18.the Western Isles Council, who is keen to have confirmation that the
:06:19. > :06:20.Scottish Government will devolve responsibility for the Crown estate
:06:21. > :06:29.to the Western Isles, a measure which the honourable gentleman does
:06:30. > :06:34.not appear to support. The honourable gentleman is the chair of
:06:35. > :06:37.the energy and climate change committee, and I ask him to behave
:06:38. > :06:53.in the statesman-like manner that would be expected of such a high
:06:54. > :07:14.officeholder as he is. We might learn about onshore wind
:07:15. > :07:15.Michelle Thompson. The provision of Michelle Thompson. The provision of
:07:16. > :07:15.an extra runway for either Gatwick an extra runway for either Gatwick
:07:16. > :07:17.or Heathrow will likely require related infrastructure improvements
:07:18. > :07:19.to be met from the public purse. Given that the money spent will
:07:20. > :07:21.include a population share, a financial consideration from
:07:22. > :07:23.Scottish taxpayers, will it be taxation without representation, or
:07:24. > :07:26.can the Secretary of State guarantee that Scottish MPs in this House will
:07:27. > :07:29.have a vote... Order. I am genuinely trying to be helpful to members. But
:07:30. > :07:31.can I ask members to look at the terms of the question on the paper.
:07:32. > :07:41.Is very specifically about onshore wind planning. We must move on. As
:07:42. > :07:44.part of its ongoing transformation, HMRC will be making face-to-face
:07:45. > :07:55.announcements to all 170 officers, to all staff, describing weird it's
:07:56. > :08:00.offices will be. -- at its 170 officers. The office in Cumbernauld
:08:01. > :08:04.is in serious danger because of debt management and privatisation and
:08:05. > :08:13.proposed office Mergers. What will he do to protect the jobs of these
:08:14. > :08:18.employees? HMRC will be making an announcement in the next few days in
:08:19. > :08:23.terms of its long-term plan, but it is right that they seek to find
:08:24. > :08:27.savings in terms of its property costs to ensure that the money can
:08:28. > :08:39.be used to improve customer service and get taxes in. The Scotland Bill
:08:40. > :08:43.delivers the Smith Commission agreement in full. I have tabled
:08:44. > :08:48.amendments that strengthen the bill, and look forward to returning it to
:08:49. > :08:51.the House for debate next week. It represents another milestone in
:08:52. > :08:57.making the Scottish Parliament one of the most powerful devolved
:08:58. > :09:00.parliaments in the world. The Smith Commission identified that
:09:01. > :09:05.Scotland's budget should be no larger or smaller as a result of the
:09:06. > :09:09.initial transfer of new powers, and recommended that the Scottish and UK
:09:10. > :09:14.governments work together to agree a funding framework for Scotland. Can
:09:15. > :09:17.he reassure my constituents that this framework will be in place to
:09:18. > :09:26.accompany the devolution of further powers so that the funding is not at
:09:27. > :09:32.first affected? Yes. Would my right honourable friend agree that rather
:09:33. > :09:38.than relying on subsidies from London, the Scottish Government
:09:39. > :09:47.should use its tax-raising powers to pay for the services provided to the
:09:48. > :09:50.people of Scotland? I do not recognise the honourable
:09:51. > :09:55.gentleman's description of the Barnett formula, which will remain
:09:56. > :10:00.in place. But the reality now is that the Scottish Parliament will
:10:01. > :10:03.have significant powers over tax, or over welfare, and it is time that
:10:04. > :10:10.the SNP told us what they will do with them. It is interesting that he
:10:11. > :10:14.did not take the opportunity to condemn the views of his
:10:15. > :10:19.conservative colleagues who believe that Scotland is subsidised. Only 9%
:10:20. > :10:30.of people in Scotland believe that the Barrow has been delivered. --
:10:31. > :10:34.vow. The financial framework of the bill is crucial. He was only able to
:10:35. > :10:42.give a 1 word answer to my colleague, so will he elaborate and
:10:43. > :11:16.tell us when the UK Government will update this Parliament on the
:11:17. > :11:23.progress that has been made on the fiscal framework? I am sorry that he
:11:24. > :11:32.did not read my written ministerial statement which was lodged in the
:11:33. > :11:41.House on Monday, which up dated the House on the progress of the fiscal
:11:42. > :11:46.framework, but what I recognise in relation to his comments are these
:11:47. > :11:49.words from the Daily Record editorial, Morden, moan, whinge,
:11:50. > :11:49.does not want the new powers because does not want the new powers because
:11:50. > :11:50.it makes them accountable to the it makes them accountable to the
:11:51. > :11:51.people of Scotland. The Secretary of State for Scotland has had a second
:11:52. > :11:52.opportunity to condemn the views from his own backbenchers that
:11:53. > :11:53.Scotland is subsidised. I challenge him to come to the dispatch box and
:11:54. > :11:59.this associate himself with these views. Can he give us some detail on
:12:00. > :12:03.what is going on between the Treasury and the Scottish Government
:12:04. > :12:04.and give and I shouldn't that there will be no detrimental implications
:12:05. > :12:16.for people in Scotland? Not only does the right honourable
:12:17. > :12:20.gentleman not read written ministerial statements, he didn't
:12:21. > :12:24.even listen to my answer to my colleague. He didn't listen to the
:12:25. > :12:31.answer to my colleague, so perhaps he can read Hansard. But the reality
:12:32. > :12:33.is, the powers that are being delivered to the Scottish Parliament
:12:34. > :12:36.will make it the most powerful will make it the most powerful
:12:37. > :12:39.devolved parliament in the world. But rather than tell us what they'll
:12:40. > :12:44.do with those powers, it is grievance and grudge. So we'll tax
:12:45. > :12:48.credits, which the Scottish Parliament themselves acknowledge
:12:49. > :12:58.can be topped up, be topped up by the SNP, yes or no? Thank you, Mr
:12:59. > :13:03.Speaker. Can I take this opportunity to pay tribute to our Armed Forces?
:13:04. > :13:07.We pay tribute to them for their sacrifice to our country this
:13:08. > :13:11.Armistice weekend. Scottish and UK ministers have said repeatedly that
:13:12. > :13:15.the fiscal framework negotiations will be concluded this autumn. Can
:13:16. > :13:21.the Secretary of State explain why they have been delayed until January
:13:22. > :13:26.at the earliest? As I set out in my written ministerial statement, the
:13:27. > :13:30.position is that the UK government is proceeding at the moment towards
:13:31. > :13:35.the Comprehensive Spending Review, which I'm sure the honourable
:13:36. > :13:38.gentleman Access is a major task, and shortly thereafter the Scottish
:13:39. > :13:43.Government will proceed with the Scottish draft budget. When I met
:13:44. > :13:49.with the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, last week he gave me the
:13:50. > :13:52.confidence that he wants to reach a fiscal framework agreement and that
:13:53. > :13:56.is certainly the position of the United Kingdom government and that
:13:57. > :14:02.is why I was able to answer the honourable lady from Lanark and
:14:03. > :14:06.Hamilton East as I did. Mr Speaker, I thank the Secretary of State for
:14:07. > :14:09.that answer but Scotland's First Minister has warned that the SNP
:14:10. > :14:14.government may reject the Scotland bill if, as I quote, they complain
:14:15. > :14:19.framework is not fair to Scotland. It is clear they are looking for any
:14:20. > :14:22.excuse to delay further powers for Scotland so I ask the Secretary of
:14:23. > :14:27.State, can he assure this has the fiscal framework will be agreed
:14:28. > :14:30.before the Scottish Parliament is dissolved in March, and can he
:14:31. > :14:35.explain why both he and the SNP are conspiring to make this agreement
:14:36. > :14:40.delivered behind closed doors with no public transparency, which begs
:14:41. > :14:46.the question, what are they trying to hide? As the honourable gentleman
:14:47. > :14:51.well knows, a statement has been published after each meeting of the
:14:52. > :14:54.joint exchequer committee. I take John Swinney and the Scottish
:14:55. > :14:59.Government at face value that they want to reach a fair agreement for
:15:00. > :15:02.Scotland. The UK government wants to reach a fair agreement for
:15:03. > :15:11.Scotland. It is in all our interests and I am confident that that will be
:15:12. > :15:15.achieved. Number four, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, with permission, I will
:15:16. > :15:19.answer questions four and 11 together. I have regular discussions
:15:20. > :15:24.with adaptive First Minister John Swinney and our officials are in
:15:25. > :15:33.close contact. -- Deputy First Minister. Have having failed to
:15:34. > :15:36.acknowledge the question from my honourable friend two times already,
:15:37. > :15:40.with the Secretary of State now disassociates himself from the
:15:41. > :15:45.comments of his colleague suggested that Scotland is subsidised? And
:15:46. > :15:48.beyond that, the fiscal framework that allows the Scottish Government
:15:49. > :15:53.the flexibility to pursue separate fiscal policies from the damaging
:15:54. > :15:56.policies progressed by this UK government, ensuring the highest
:15:57. > :16:00.levels of transparency, will the Secretary of State provide the House
:16:01. > :16:07.with a timetable for the publication of a draft fiscal framework? The
:16:08. > :16:11.comments that were made in the written ministerial statement on
:16:12. > :16:14.Monday set out about the fiscal framework agreement is likely to
:16:15. > :16:22.come after the Comprehensive Spending Review and the draft
:16:23. > :16:26.Scottish budget has been completed. Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is the
:16:27. > :16:30.fourth opportunity now for the Secretary of State to disassociates
:16:31. > :16:35.himself with those comments around Scotland being subsidy junkies. Will
:16:36. > :16:38.he do so? But will he also confirmed that the negotiations around the
:16:39. > :16:41.fiscal framework are happening between the Treasury and the
:16:42. > :16:45.Scottish Government and he is relying on a Scottish lord to advise
:16:46. > :16:51.those negotiations? Will he confirm that? Mr Speaker, it is obviously
:16:52. > :16:56.clear that the Scottish National Party don't listen to answers. If
:16:57. > :17:02.they read Hansard, you will see the response that I gave to my
:17:03. > :17:07.colleague. In relation to the fiscal framework, it's an agreement and who
:17:08. > :17:11.is the guy shooting on behalf of the Scottish Government? John Swinney,
:17:12. > :17:16.the Deputy First Minister. -- who is negotiating. They don't have much
:17:17. > :17:25.confidence in his ability to reach a fair deal for Scotland. Mr Speaker,
:17:26. > :17:28.at the weekend, the leader of the Scottish Labour Party announced that
:17:29. > :17:31.a future Scottish Labour government would use the powers of the Scotland
:17:32. > :17:37.bill to compensate people for money they will lose because of the
:17:38. > :17:39.Tories' cuts to tax credits. I'm sure the Secretary of State would
:17:40. > :17:43.not like to see that happen but can he confirm that the new powers
:17:44. > :17:48.contained in the Scotland bill will give the Scottish Parliament the
:17:49. > :17:51.ability to top up tax credits? I don't agree with cosier Dugdale but
:17:52. > :17:56.at least she's got the guts to stand up and say she will put up taxes and
:17:57. > :18:02.she will put up tax credits. The SNP have said precisely nothing.
:18:03. > :18:05.Instead, they want an argument about process instead of telling us what
:18:06. > :18:16.they are going to do with these important new powers. Mr Speaker, it
:18:17. > :18:24.is the Secretary of State... Number five. Ministers have had discussions
:18:25. > :18:27.with the Leader of the House on English votes and their impairment
:18:28. > :18:33.Asian. They are sensible and pragmatic steps but do nothing to
:18:34. > :18:39.limit Scottish MPs' rights to represent their constituents.
:18:40. > :18:43.Forgive my impatience, as ever. If the Secretary of State as concerned
:18:44. > :18:48.as I am that the Barnett principles which affect all three devolved
:18:49. > :18:52.nations are not clearly spelt out and safeguarded in the new
:18:53. > :18:57.arrangements, and will he take this 5th of June two 2 explain what is
:18:58. > :19:02.happening with the fiscal compound? -- fifth opportunity to explain. The
:19:03. > :19:05.changes to standing orders do not make any difference to the Estimates
:19:06. > :19:10.process and I know when my right honourable friend, the Leader of the
:19:11. > :19:13.House, challenged honourable members to provide examples of where they
:19:14. > :19:22.would be difficulties, nose apples could be provided. Mr Speaker, as
:19:23. > :19:29.the procedure committee is planning to hold and inquiry on the manner in
:19:30. > :19:33.which this House deals with estimates, can I try are more friend
:19:34. > :19:40.to defer having any conversations with his Cabinet colleagues until
:19:41. > :19:43.the report is to hand? What I can say is that the government will do
:19:44. > :19:48.very carefully at what the procedures committee has to say in
:19:49. > :19:54.terms of any reforms of the estimates process, which is
:19:55. > :20:01.ultimately a matter for the House. Question six, Mr Speaker. Health
:20:02. > :20:04.spending is a devolved matter and the Scottish Government is
:20:05. > :20:08.responsible for the NHS in Scotland. It is up to the Scottish
:20:09. > :20:11.Government to decide how best to use their funding and deliver health
:20:12. > :20:16.services in Scotland. The UK Government is happy to share good
:20:17. > :20:19.practice with the Scottish Government to help ensure people
:20:20. > :20:21.living in Scotland receive high-quality health care.
:20:22. > :20:25.Discussions between UK health ministers take place where
:20:26. > :20:30.necessary. I thank the Minister for that answer but has he seen the
:20:31. > :20:33.recent Audit Scotland report, which shows that the Scottish Government
:20:34. > :20:39.has completely failed to pass on health spending increases from this
:20:40. > :20:47.government, resulting in a 0.7% reduction in spending in Scotland
:20:48. > :20:49.between 2008-9 and 2014-15. I have seen that reporter my honourable
:20:50. > :20:56.friend is right to bring that report to the attention of the House. The
:20:57. > :21:01.reality is that a Conservative government has shown more commitment
:21:02. > :21:08.to public spending on the NHS in England than an SNP led government
:21:09. > :21:10.has done in Scotland. We now have English votes for English laws on
:21:11. > :21:17.issues such as health spending in England. Does the Minister not think
:21:18. > :21:22.it is time for Scottish members for Scottish business? Scottish business
:21:23. > :21:28.for Scottish ministers, and Scottish ministers to answer Scottish
:21:29. > :21:31.questions in this House? I noticed that the honourable gentleman raises
:21:32. > :21:35.the issue of English votes for English laws and get very worked up
:21:36. > :21:38.about it. Can I just remind him and the House of what he said just a
:21:39. > :21:42.year ago, in terms of English votes for English laws, an issue that the
:21:43. > :21:46.Scottish people could not care less about. That does not seem to be his
:21:47. > :21:54.approach any more. Question seven, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, recorded
:21:55. > :21:59.incidents of anti-Semitism in Scotland are thankfully low but I'm
:22:00. > :22:02.not complacent. I echo the Prime Minister's view. Tackling
:22:03. > :22:06.anti-Semitism goes right in the heart of what we stand for as a
:22:07. > :22:13.country. Whatever our politics and our faith, we must look to defeat
:22:14. > :22:17.it. 15 Scottish MPs attended a briefing by the all-party group on
:22:18. > :22:22.anti-Semitism last week. With the goodwill that clearly exists, will
:22:23. > :22:27.be minister talk with the Scottish Government about how the system of
:22:28. > :22:34.state funded security in Jewish schools in England could be emulated
:22:35. > :22:37.in Glasgow? I certainly will and I'm very happy to do so, and I should
:22:38. > :22:42.say to the honourable gentleman that despite the many robust exchanges
:22:43. > :22:46.that we have in this chamber, all MPs from Scotland are united in our
:22:47. > :22:55.view that we cannot tolerate anti-Semitism. The Secretary of
:22:56. > :22:58.State will be aware that icon in East Renfrewshire, represent
:22:59. > :23:03.Scotlandlargest Jewish community and I was pleased at the briefing to
:23:04. > :23:06.hear of the very good intercommunity relations and positive support from
:23:07. > :23:10.Police Scotland in my area. I would ask if the Secretary of State would
:23:11. > :23:15.join me in applauding our Scottish Jewish communities for their great
:23:16. > :23:19.contributions to our country and deploring anti-Semitism and
:23:20. > :23:22.dissemination wherever it occurs. I absolutely do, and I commend the
:23:23. > :23:26.honourable lady on her engagement already in her short time as a
:23:27. > :23:30.member of Parliament with that important Jewish community in
:23:31. > :23:34.Scotland. I also commend the work of the Scottish Government in that
:23:35. > :23:38.regard. As I said earlier, this is a matter on which we are all united,
:23:39. > :23:44.supporting Jewish communities and not accepting anti-Semitism. Number
:23:45. > :23:49.eight, Mr Speaker. The UK Government is delivering the cross-party Smith
:23:50. > :23:53.agreement in full, giving the Scottish Government substantial new
:23:54. > :23:56.powers over tax and spending. The Smith agreement stated that the
:23:57. > :24:00.devolution of powers should be a company by updated fiscal framework.
:24:01. > :24:06.The UK and Scottish Government are discussing this. I am going to offer
:24:07. > :24:10.the Secretary of State a sixth opportunity to disassociate himself
:24:11. > :24:16.from the subsidy claims of his own party. Will he do so? And further,
:24:17. > :24:20.does the Secretary of State agree with me that the Treasury's
:24:21. > :24:25.statements of funding policy over the devolution years have been a
:24:26. > :24:29.creaking and unstable mess, creating unnecessary friction, and will he
:24:30. > :24:34.recommit to a more open and transparent process, as he refused
:24:35. > :24:42.to do previously for the calculation to underpin that new fiscal
:24:43. > :24:45.framework? There is a process and it involves UK Treasury ministers in
:24:46. > :24:49.negotiations with the Scottish Government, and we are continuing to
:24:50. > :24:57.work on that process. I will update the House when there is further
:24:58. > :25:00.news. Question nine. The Smith commission recommended that abortion
:25:01. > :25:04.law be devolved to the Scottish Parliament but recognised the issue
:25:05. > :25:08.needed to be handled sensitively between the UK and Scottish
:25:09. > :25:11.governments. Allowing ministerial discussions, I confirm that abortion
:25:12. > :25:17.will be devolved into Scotland bill. As I have confirmed already,
:25:18. > :25:25.there will be ongoing engagement with the women's groups as the
:25:26. > :25:28.matter is taken forward. We believe that the woman's right to choose
:25:29. > :25:37.should be universal. Does the Secretary of State envisaged any
:25:38. > :25:40.change in abortion law in Scotland? I think it would be helpful if I
:25:41. > :25:44.just confirmed that because abortion law is being devolved does not mean
:25:45. > :25:48.that there will be any change to the existing arrangements, which will
:25:49. > :25:52.continue to apply in Scotland until they are changed by the Scottish
:25:53. > :25:56.Parliament. I'm very pleased to note that the First Minister of Scotland
:25:57. > :26:02.has confirmed that she has no plans at all to change the existing
:26:03. > :26:10.abortion law in Scotland. Can I urge the Minister to think again about
:26:11. > :26:12.devolution of abortion to Scotland? This is to have smaller
:26:13. > :26:18.jurisdictions making decisions that are so sensitive on health care,
:26:19. > :26:22.which is deeply unwise and would allow those who want to lobby
:26:23. > :26:27.against the interests of health care to undermine the interests of women,
:26:28. > :26:31.both in Scotland and in England. I would urge him to consult far more
:26:32. > :26:39.widely before he makes this very big step. I recognise, of course, the
:26:40. > :26:43.concerns that the honourable lady shows but the Scottish Parliament
:26:44. > :26:45.already has responsibility for criminal Justice and four health
:26:46. > :26:56.issues and has dealt with some very sensitive issues very well, in my
:26:57. > :27:00.view. I've spoken to women's groups in Scotland and they believe that
:27:01. > :27:06.the devolution can take place but they want to be consulted about that
:27:07. > :27:11.and they will be. I haven't forgotten the honourable gentleman.
:27:12. > :27:20.I never do. Mr Mark Menzies. Thank you very much. Question Number Ten.
:27:21. > :27:24.I'm very pleased to report that the recent UCAS statistics show a record
:27:25. > :27:30.year for university entry for disadvantaged students domiciled and
:27:31. > :27:36.England. 18.2% in 2014, compared to 13.6% in 2009. Unfortunately, the
:27:37. > :27:43.situation in Scotland is not as good. Only 10% of the poorest 20% of
:27:44. > :27:51.Scots attend university. Very concerning. My honourable friend the
:27:52. > :27:54.Minister anticipated my entry. As someone who came from a
:27:55. > :27:57.working-class background of the West Coast of Scotland and went to a
:27:58. > :28:01.university in Scotland, I'm deeply concerned about how Scotland is
:28:02. > :28:07.lagging behind England and working class, to people are losing out. Mr
:28:08. > :28:14.Speaker, it may sound strange, an English Tory elected to a Scottish
:28:15. > :28:22.university, but as a former armoury president of Stirling University, an
:28:23. > :28:24.outstanding university, I share the honourablegentleman's concerns and
:28:25. > :28:28.the Scottish Government could do a great deal of learning from the
:28:29. > :28:41.English universities. Questions to the Prime Minister.
:28:42. > :28:48.I know the whole house will join me in paying tribute to those who have
:28:49. > :28:53.fallen serving our country. They gave their lives so we could live
:28:54. > :28:56.hours in freedom. It is right to reflect on Armistice Day and a
:28:57. > :28:59.contribution to all of those who have served our country. This
:29:00. > :29:03.morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others
:29:04. > :29:09.and in addition to my duties in this House I shall have further meetings
:29:10. > :29:10.today. I would like to associate